Disclaimer: *sniff* Escaflowne isn't mine! *sobs* but some of the charas are. *Perks up a bit*.
UNFORGOTTEN
Chapter 3: Hold That Thought
Van looked out the window and slapped his forehead. I forgot about the princess! Just as he was about to turn on his heal and run out the door Hitomi collapsed. "Hitomi!" Van was there to catch her. He brushed her sandy brown hair out of her eyes and laid her on his bed not leaving her side till she woke up. The princess would just have to wait, but then again...
*~*
"WHAT?!?" Isabelle screeched at the top of her lungs. "HE CAN'T BE COURTING ANYONE!!! THE ENGAGEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN ARRANGED!!! WE'RE TO BE MARRIED NEXT WEEK!!!"
Merle stepped back from the sudden outburst the princess had brought. Her eyes widened with shock as the news sent itself forth in such an odd manner. Merle had all sorts of troublesome thoughts running throughout her brain.
*~*
Van's eyes grew with fear as he heard what the princess had said. Engaged?? His eyes that had once been with affection and tenderness turned to a frightened cold stare. He furrowed his eyebrows. This must be my advisors' doing. He sighed sorrowfully and looked back down at Hitomi's still form. Poor Hitomi. I don't want her to know about this engagement. What am I going to do? I guess I'll just have to try and cancel the wedding before Hitomi finds out.
Van stared at Hitomi's beautiful face. He checked her pulse now and then to make sure she wasn't dead. Oh Hitomi, I don't want you to go through all that pain again. It's just not fair that you're the only one to suffer. What did you do to deserve this?
*~*
Isabelle instantly calmed down after her screaming. Silent tears started flowing down her face. She quickly wiped them away so Merle wouldn't see. How is Van courting someone? I thought I knew him. I could've sworn that my advisors told me he wasn't courting anyone. Oh well. I guess I'm being rude to just stand here and not go and meet the princess. Isabelle sighed with annoyance. "I wish I had never even come here in the first place." she mumbled under her breath without realizing it.
"Huh? What'd you say?" Merle asked, turning away from her thoughts.
Isabelle blushed. Oh no! Did I say that out loud? "G-gomen!! I didn't mean to say anything!" Isabelle paused for a bit. She saw the confused look on Merle's face and a sweatdrop appeared above Isabelle's head, showing her nervousness for being so rash about everything. "Ano...I guess I'll attend the wedding since I'm already here. Would you like to introduce me to the princess? I had no idea that Van was already courting someone or I wouldn't have come." Why did I say that? I don't really want to attend the wedding! I just want to go home!!
Merle smiled at the princess. Just earlier she had hated the princess's guts and now she kind of liked her. Maybe she just tends to have temper tantrums. "So...you don't mind that a 'cat' is escorting you? I mean, all the other princesses hated me just because I'm a cat."
Isabelle smiled seeing the worried look on Merle's face. "Of course I don't hate you! In Akan we welcome all animals with open arms. I'm very good friends with loads of them. I would also like to be your friend if it doesn't bother you." Now what made me say that? I guess she just looked a little friendly. I wonder if the real reason father brought me here was to marry Van or for something else.
"I'll introduce you to her right now if you'd like!" Merle said in a very happy tone. She loved to have friends and for some odd reason wanted to be Isabelle's. "Let's go!" Merle said without thinking. She forgot that Van and Hitomi were probably still playing their little game.
*~*
"Where am I? Van? VAN?!?" Hitomi screamed through the black eternity that surrounded her. "Oh no!! I'm in a vision! Why now? I haven't had them for such a long time. I don't even do tarot anymore!" Soft tears emerged from Hitomi's innocent green eyes, and as one fell, a scene of Fanelia burning surrounded her. Her eyes went wide with fear and agony.
"Fanelia! It's burning! NO!!!" Hitomi screamed and ran around frantically, trying to find the source. The scenery suddenly changed and she was near a farm. She spun around to try and see if anyone was near. Sure enough, she saw someone. It was herself!! She seemed to be talking to someone but couldn't quite see them. She couldn't hear what they were saying so she stepped in closer.
"Why?" the other person spoke. Their voice was cold and hateful. Hitomi couldn't tell whether it was a man or woman.
The fake Hitomi turned around and hugged herself. The person that Hitomi was supposedly talking to started to run towards the fake Hitomi. She couldn't take it anymore. She didn't want to see what would happen, and feel pain and sorrow from a mere vision. Hitomi wanted so badly right now to shut her eyes hoping it would shield her from the pain, but she couldn't blink. Most suddenly a sweet sensation filled Hitomi, making her fill with warmth and love. She no longer felt cold and fearful. The vision swirled as if it was confused and after a moments time it disappeared.
*~*
Van didn't know why but it seemed like good time. He saw the pain and worry etched into Hitomi's beautiful features. She'll never know so I guess it wouldn't hurt to do it just this once. Van thought bravely. He sat on his bed next to Hitomi and leaned down closer and closer. His soft gentle lips met Hitomi's cheek as he kissed her softly then lifted his face and smiled at her. He felt overjoyed that he had just kissed her. It had felt better than he thought it would. He looked off into space leaving Gaea behind to visit a land of his own.
Hitomi woke up and saw Van, but it seemed he was not with her. She giggled at how funny he looked. Van instantly transferred back to Gaea once her giggle was heard. He started blushing furiously, hoping Hitomi didn't wake up while he was kissing her.
Hitomi looked at Van and saw the blood flowing through his face. She was confused, but then again Van always seemed to leave her clueless. She giggled again and sat up but instantly fell back to her pillow.
Van quickly reacted to her situation. "Are you alright? Did the vision hurt? Do you wan..." he was quickly silenced as Hitomi said his name in realization.
"Van?"
"Uh...yes?" Van said with concern. Anything for you Hitomi.
"D-did you stay with me the whole time?" Hitomi asked as a blush formed on her face.
Van smiled. "Hai. Anything for you." Tears filled her eyes. Van looked down. Oh no! Did I hurt her feelings? Does she hate me for staying with her? "Ano...gomen. If you want to be alone then I understand."
Hitomi saw the hurt on Van's face as he sat up to leave. She had to do something quick because she knew she had hurt his feelings somehow. "Wait!" Hitomi sat up a little more slowly than last time. "Don't go! I-I don't want to be alone," she hesitated as she didn't know what to say at that moment. Hitomi blushed and Van turned around with a small smile forming on his lips. Tears formed in her eyes as she jumped up and hugged Van with all her strength. Clearly he does not see how much this means to me!
Van could feel the blood run to his face. "You are so sweet to have stayed with me!" Hitomi cried into his shoulder. "I know that you're the one that saved me from that horrible vision! Right when I needed it the most you were there to save me!" She pulled away seeing how she was squeezing the life out of Van. "Gomen! Ano...how did you do it?" she asked a little embarrassed for hugging him but she didn't have the strength to let go. Neither did he.
"N-nani?" Van was a bit confused. Do what?
"Save me from the
Hitomi looked at Van and saw how red he was. "I-I-I...ano...I..." he knew she would be angry if she knew. Van didn't have the courage to lie to her. She awaited his answer but it didn't come as expected.
"He kissed you on the cheek!" someone said from the doorway. It was Merle and Princess Isabelle. Merle snickered after she had said this. Now maybe they might actually get somewhere.
"Nani?" Hitomi asked blushing most furiously as Van was turning redder if possible.
"You...you were watching?" Van stuttered.
"Who are you?" Hitomi asked confusedly as she gestured towards Isabelle.
"I am Princess Isabelle from Akan," Isabelle said. "and you must be the future queen of Fan..." Isabelle started to say but found a paw clamped in front of her mouth as Merle started to pull her out of the room.
Hitomi looked all the while confused. "Eh?"
"We'll make introductions later. Bye!" Merle yelled over her shoulder as she shoved Princess Isabelle out of the room.
"What did you do that for?!?!" Isabelle yelled at Merle. "You had no right!!"
"Look miss!! I don't know who you think you are but for your information Van doesn't even know that he's courting Hitomi yet so don't scare her off okay?" Merle fumed.
"Nani?!? You...you...you mean..." Isabelle didn't even finish. She ran down the hall to where Van's room was.
*~*
Van sighed. She probably hates me now. Hitomi turned around and smiled at Van and put her arms around his neck. "I didn't know you cared." Hitomi whispered in Van's ear making him blush visibly. She planted a kiss on his cheek. "There, now we're even." Hitomi let go of his neck and ran out of the room so she wouldn't be tempted to kiss him full on the lips.
Is it just me or is Van just SO much handsomer than last time? It's so hard to keep calm. I swear that the next time I'm with him my heart will be beating so fast that it will leap out of my chest! Hitomi released all the breath she had been holding and tried to catch it. "At least my heart's starting to catch up to me after all these years," she smiled to herself. Then a worried look overcame her. But when should I tell him?
After Van had overcome from the stiffness he decided to go after Hitomi. "Hitomi?" he called.
"Yes Van?" Hitomi said a little overexcited. Since she was just around the corner where Van was headed she quickly turned it and bumped right into him making her in an uncomfortable situation. She blushed a light shade of pink. "G-gomen das..." Van's finger rested on her lips cutting her short.
"Gomen dasai." Van whispered to her in his soft baritone voice. I have to tell her.
"For what?" Hitomi whispered back as she drew a little nearer.
"For...for..." Van couldn't finish. His eyes rolled in his head and he started to fall backwards.
"Van? Van??" Hitomi called out confused. "VAN?!?" she tried to catch him but he was too heavy for her. Hitomi luckily ran ahead and caught his head so he wouldn't injure it. "What happened?" she whispered to herself. It doesn't look like he fainted. Someone must have done something to him. But what? And why? Hitomi felt for his pulse but she couldn't feel one. Her body flooded with fear. "Please don't die Van!! Please!" What if he's having a vision? Hitomi shook her head. No, that's impossible. Only I have visions. Or maybe... This calls for drastic measures. Hitomi closed her eyes tight before starting to do something she had once done before to save Van's life, but something was awfully wrong about this.
*~*~*~*
Translations:
gomen = sorry
gomen dasai = I'm very sorry
ano = um
hai = yes
nani = what
A/N: This was a bit shorter than I tended it to be but I kept thinking about what I wanted to happen on the way. If I would've gone with my other idea then it might've gone longer but you don't know how long I've been putting this chapter off!!! I'm happy I actually got it up. If you have any ideas or anything you want to happen in the future on this fic or any people you absolutely WANT to have in this fic then PLEASE tell me!!! luv ya all! ^_^ buh bye for now! Dunno when I'll write again.
~Sally Fox~